Cervical Spine Tomography in Trauma

Abstract

Tomography was performed on 136 patients following trauma to the cervical spine. In approximately 25% of the patients tomograms demonstrated abnormalities not identified on the plain cervical spine radiographs: eg, odontoid fractures, facet fractures and dislocations, congenital lesions, multiple fractures, and other unsuspected lesions. In an additional 25% of patients, the tomograms disproved the suspected plain film findings. In 12.5% of the cases examined, the tomographic examination dramatically altered the management of the patient. In an additional 25%, the patient's management was significantly modified by the information obtained at tomography.